Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Legal Elite Hall of Fame

For 20 years, Florida Trend has shined the spotlight on the best of the best within the state’s legal profession. During that time, being selected as a Legal Elite was an honor. Further, to be chosen for the Hall of Fame, well, that title just about says it all for an industry that is historically powerful — and only growing stronger. This year, we salute the Hall of Fame through the years including the new 2023 inductees. [Source: Florida Trend]

Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called ‘don’t say gay’ law

A state representative wants to expand last year’s controversial Parental Rights in Education law to the eighth grade, setting up another culture war clash over what critics labeled “don’t say gay.” Rep. Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor, filed a bill Tuesday that also would forbid public schools from using pronouns that align with a transgender student’s gender identity. The measure would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for grades kindergarten through eighth, instead of third grade as the original law mandates. The proposal (HB 1223) also adds pre-kindergarten, including private programs, and charter schools to the law. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]

Why is diversity the hot issue in Florida higher education?

Less than three years ago, Florida’s higher education leaders went all in to address racial and ethnic inequalities. With protesters still marching over the May 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the Board of Governors formed a committee to ramp up diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the state’s 12 public universities. In recent weeks, Florida has witnessed a striking reversal as Gov. Ron DeSantis has targeted university diversity programs. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Proposal floats idea of full-time lawmakers

State analysts would be asked to study whether the role of state lawmakers should become more of a full-time occupation with higher pay, under a proposal filed Monday. Rep. Bruce Antone, D-Orlando, wants the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, known as OPPAGA, to study and recommend if the Legislature should be full-time, part-time, or a hybrid and if salary increases are needed. The proposal (HB 1183) also would ask OPPAGA to consider if Cabinet members --- the attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner --- should draw pay that is comparable to other large states. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Win $1 million a year for life with new Florida Lottery game

You read that correctly — You could be the lucky recipient of $1 million for life with the Florida Lottery’s new “$1,000,000 A YEAR FOR LIFE SPECTACULAR” scratch-off game. The $50 game offers more than $1.6 billion in cash prizes with a top prize of $1 million a year-for-life. The overall odds of the game are 1-in-4.5. Advertisement The new scratch-off game is only one of four announced Monday by the Florida Lottery. [Source: WESH]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› SeaWorld’s revenue keeps flowing, but visitor, staffing worries remain [Orlando Sentinel]
Orlando-based SeaWorld Entertainment kept its now seven-quarter streak of record-setting numbers going Tuesday as higher prices helped boost guest spending at its theme parks, but concerns about lagging visitor numbers and staffing persist. CEO Marc Swanson said the company’s fourth-quarter revenue of $390.5 million and its adjusted earnings of $153.7 million hit new highs, and SeaWorld also set revenue, net income and adjusted earnings records in its 2022 fiscal year.

› Tampa has a business improvement district. Is downtown St. Petersburg next? [Tampa Bay Times]
Jason Mathis has floated the idea for the past few years, but now, he’s starting the soft sell. Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, is pitching the idea of creating a special improvement district to residents, property and business owners. It would act almost like a glorified homeowners association. The city of Tampa already has a similar district. “It’s worthy of asking the question,” he said Tuesday.

› Can critics stop Fort Lauderdale’s pickleball deal? [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
It’s a done deal. That’s what some are saying about the plan to build a privately-run pickleball complex and restaurant on 8 acres of public land in Fort Lauderdale’s Snyder Park. But critics of the controversial project are not giving up their fight to block the $10 million project. “The neighborhood is against it,” said Kevin Cochrane, a community activist leading the charge against the project. “It’s one of those things that can’t be undone [if it gets built]. Ten years from now when you go to Snyder Park, this open space is going to be gone.”

› Sarasota manufacturer opens automated warehouse in Italy [Business Observer]
Helios Technologies Inc. recently opened a new automated warehouse that can service up to 190 pallets an hour. The newly constructed warehouse is located in Italy at Faster S.r.l., an Italian hydraulic components producer that became part of Helios in 2018. The Sarasota-based publicly traded company, with $861.9 million in revenue in 2021, is an engineered motion control and electronic controls technology company.

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› Duke trims proposed bill increases [News Service of Floridda]
With projected prices of natural gas dropping, Duke Energy Florida on Monday trimmed proposed bill increases that likely will hit customers in April. Duke made filings in January at the Public Service Commission seeking to recoup additional money from customers because of higher-than-expected gas prices in 2022 and hurricane-related costs. But in a filing Monday, Duke said lower projected gas prices in 2023 will help offset part of the proposed increases.

› Siesta Beach in Sarasota makes Top 5 in U.S., ranked among Top 15 in world by Tripadvisor [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Sarasota County's most popular beach has again been ranked among the best in the country and world by a national website. Tripadvisor announced its Best of the Best Beaches for 2023 lists as part of its annual Travelers' Choice Awards. Siesta Beach on Siesta Key ranked No. 2 among the Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. The famed Sarasota County beach just missed the Top 10 on Tripadvisor's list of Top 10 Beaches in the World, placing No. 11 for 2023.

› Poll finds most oppose using city funds to upgrade TIAA Bank Field [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Most Jacksonville residents don’t support using public money to upgrade the Jacksonville Jaguars football stadium, according to a University of North Florida Public Research Lab Poll released Feb. 28. Jaguars President Mark Lamping said in June that the team wants to complete designs and planning for a full renovation of TIAA Bank Field “well in advance” of the 2029 season when the team’s lease expires.

› Tampa restaurant company resurrects California-famous Tiki brand [Business Observer]
Trust the Tiki. That’s the approach area restaurant executive Marc Brown is taking with his company's newest concept, a revival of the California-famous Don the Beachcomber brand. Brown’s company, Tampa-based 23 Restaurant Services, plans to open two Don the Beachcombers in the next 18 months, one outside Orlando and the other in Brevard County, in Viera. The investment will be north of $6 million, Brown says “but hopefully not $7 million,” and come from a variety of capital from partners, investors and a little bank debt.